Cynthia Read online

  Horrific shrieks erupted, sending me to my knees. The water beside the path rippled. Fins split the surface. Was there a giant shark set free from the ruptured tunnel? I glanced at my earrings sitting in the carved-out nook. They shimmered when light touched them. I shoved them in my pocket. I could use them to lure the barracuda away.

  Waves splashed me and I was drenched from head to toe. What was in there? Where had Roger taken me?

  A giant, red eye appeared, inches from my face. It was Cynthia. I could see my reflection in her iris. “Hello, Cynthia.” She changed from her spotted brown to a deep grey, resembling the walls.

  “Look at this, my two favorite girls, making friends.” Roger’s head peeked out from around the side of her giant eyeball. He stood on her tentacle as if it were a sidewalk. “C’mon, Tío, we need to shut down the lab so that the minis aren’t accidentally lost.”

  “Yes, I must protect my babies from these monsters.” Tío stepped off the octopus’ tentacle and rushed towards the pods. “Daddy’s coming, little ones. I’m here to rescue you.”

  “She saved you!” I cried, falling into Roger’s arms. “I thought you were dead.”

  “It’s going to be okay,” he cooed, kissing the top of my head. “I’m right here.”

  “Those things could’ve killed you!”

  “But, they didn’t. Cynthia saved us. Let’s get to safety. I have one more thing to show you.”

  I let out a whimper. “I don’t think I can take any more surprises today.”

  A devious chuckle escaped his lips. “Trust me.”

  I didn’t have an ounce of humor remaining inside me. “After today, how do you expect me to do that?”

  “What are you saying, Leah?”

  “I don’t know.” A lone tear trickled down my cheek and I loosened my grip, slowly backing away. “This isn’t how I pictured our anniversary weekend.”

  His face grew mean. “Wipe your face,” he said. “You’re playing the victim card again—just like your Mother.”

  “I am not! I’m trying to communicate with you. Which part of what I just said did you not understand?”

  “Forget it.” He knelt, patting Cynthia’s tentacle. She disappeared into the darkness. Once gone, he inhaled deeply before standing. “I think it’s time you went back to where you came from.”

  “Excuse me?”

  He nodded. “Yeah, you don’t belong in our world.”

  “Your world? What am I to you?”

  “Nothing.”

  “What?”

  He turned to face me with bloodshot eyes and a clenched jaw. “You’re nothing.”

  “I’m nothing.” I touched where my heart once lived. “I see, I’m nothing. Well, kindly point me in the direction of where all the other nothings go when you’re through with them.”

  “There’s a staircase hidden in the rocks by the diver’s equipment. It’ll lead you inside the auditorium. The doors are locked so you’ll have to find a broken window to climb through. There’s plenty of them, don’t worry.”

  My bottom lip trembled. “Thanks for the tip and for lying about there being only one way in or out. Just proves I’m right.”

  “It’s the least I can do.”

  “Bye, Roger.”

  “Bye, Leah.”

  I rubbed my cheeks, trembling. “Bye.”

  “You said that already. Your dramatics are just prolonging this whole thing.”

  “Are you serious?” I faced him. He was blurred through the tears that brimmed in my eyes. What had I said to make him turn so cruel?

  “You’re the one breaking up with me. Now, go.”

  “I never said I wanted to break-up.”

  He stood, with his arms folded. “You didn’t have to.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “I know you, Leah. I’ve spent the past four years studying one thing.”

  “What’s that?”

  “You. Duh.”

  “Oh, don’t try that manipulative game with me. It won’t work.”

  “Why are you still here? Go back to your old boring, safe existence. Isn’t that what you were about to say to me? That this life with me isn’t what you expected for yourself? That your Mother was right, that I’d only bring you down?”

  “Roger!”

  “Go! Now, Leah!”

  I gasped, pointing. “No, Roger, look!” I tried to run to him, slipping. I skidded across the mineral ground, smacking into the wall. Microscopic shrimp landed in a puddle. “Oh no, what have I done?” My attention quickly changed. Two giant barracuda breached the surface with their teeth barred. They focused on Roger’s back pocket.

  “Get away from Tío’s inventions.”

  “They’re right behind you!”

  “What’s right behind me?”

  “Barracudas! Why do they keep attacking you?” I scrambled, reaching for him. He refused, pointing at the escape ladder.

  “Get out of here.”

  “I’m not leaving.”

  When he spotted the monsters, Tío dropped his equipment. “What are they doing? How—”

  “Take Leah away from here!”

  Tío grabbed my arm, but I resisted. He slipped, struggling to stay upright. I wasn’t as quick on my feet. I skidded and crashed into the water. The barracuda circled me. Their fins surfaced. I cringed at the very thought of their teeth latching onto my limbs. I closed my eyes waiting for the end.

  “Leah!” Roger shouted. “Get out of there!”

  Water splashed my face and I gagged, glancing about. The barracuda turned, and their tails whipped me before they swam to the ledge, peering up at something that simmered.

  “What’s in your back pocket?”

  “Leah, don’t move. They might attack you.”

  “I’m fine. They aren’t after me.”

  “That doesn’t mean they won’t change their minds.”

  “Hide whatever that is!”

  “Not until you’re safe.”

  I swam, grabbed the ladder encrusted with barnacles, and climbed up. “What do you have that they want?”

  One of the monsters jumped, like a dolphin, onto the ledge. His body slithered its way towards Roger.

  “No, no, no!” I dug in my pocket, pulling out my earrings. I whistled, waving the studs high above my head. Light got caught inside them, sending rainbow prisms across the cave. “Over here, monsters. Look what I have.”

  Four hideous beasts turned their scaly heads. Yellow eyes glistened when they caught sight of the diamonds sparkling in the light. Their mouths opened, displaying long, sharp teeth, perfect for ripping flesh apart.

  Two more jumped onto the rock-mass. Their bodies slithered my way. Cynthia’s immense head emerged and a giant tentacle smashed the barracuda that chased Roger. It was as flat as a pancake!

  “Cynthia,” Roger shouted. “Help Leah!”

  Her head moved left to right, as if she were telling him ‘no’. The movement caused waves and she disappeared.

  “Get back here!”

  “I told you she didn’t like me!” I pressed my back against the wall. Another barracuda reached his head up, and nipped at my ankles. I cried, scooting as far back as I could get.

  Roger’s eyes watered. His voice cracked and he jumped over the fish’s corpse. C’mon! Please. I love her!” He tried to grab one of the brutes by the end of its tail, but it whipped him and sent him backwards. “Cynthia, please!”

  Bubbles exploded in the center of the water and a pod fell from the wall, cracking in half as it hit a rock.

  “Oh no!”

  Cynthia emerged, causing waves that crashed into us. With one swipe of her tentacle, she had the barracudas back in the water where they belonged.

  For a moment, I tried to catch my breath, thinking of only one thing. Roger said he loved me. He leaned against the wall, twisting excess water from his swim trunks. He was alive. The barracudas didn’t hurt him, thanks to Cynthia. She hated me, but I owed her one for saving our li
ves. I shoved the earrings inside my pocket and raced into his arms. He fell and I lay on top of him.

  “Did you hear me?” His lips smothered mine. I came up for air, kissing underneath his chin. Stubble had grown and I loved how it scratched my cheeks. He whispered in my ear. “Did you hear me?”

  “No.”

  “Yes, you did.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  With a gentleness, I’d never experienced from Roger, he placed a ring onto my finger. “I’m going to spend the rest of my life with you.”

  “Don’t you think you should ask me formally before you decide such a thing?”

  He gave me a soft peck on the lips.

  “I never said yes. Personally, I think we’re in an unhealthy relationship. Moments ago, you said I was nothing to you.”

  He shrugged, pressing his forehead to mine. “The ring is already on, so there’s no going back now.”

  “This is a bad idea.”

  “What is?”

  “Us. We’re toxic together.”

  He grinned, kissing in between my pinky and ring finger. “With this ring, your hand looks perfect.”

  I don’t think that’s—”

  “You didn’t fight me when I put it on.”

  “No, but I—”

  “It’s already on. It’s official; you’re mine.”

  I laughed, falling against him. “I guess we can fight about it later.”

  “I wanted this evening to be romantic, not a night of horror. This place is my inheritance. I’m supposed to be the next caretaker. I want you to help me when Tío retires.”

  “Have you gone mad? I can’t assist you with all of this. I don’t have the skills.”

  “Not true. The day I saw you tame that Great Dane, that was when I knew you were the one for me. Not only would you keep me in line, but you’d love Cynthia.”

  “You hated that dog.”

  He grinned, touching the tip of his nose to mine. “I know.”

  “Those are some big fish, Roger.”

  “Oh, Honey, you haven’t even seen the big ones yet.”

  Learn more about this series here:

  http://www.christinaleighpritchard.com/

  Check out a few excerpts from a few of my other books below!

  The ALMOST Series

  #1 S.H.A.Y.: ALMOST Romance….

  A novella by Christina Leigh Pritchard

  © Copyright 2013-2017 Christina Leigh Pritchard. All Rights Reserved.

  _____________________

  Under Copyright Law: No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise (except for brief quotation in printed or digital review) without prior written permission of the copyright owner.

  Dedication

  This novella series is dedicated to Eric Holzschuh. You wanted to be forever remembered via fiction and well, you’ve made it—officially. I cannot guarantee satisfaction of character performance—after all, the E.R.I.C. is not really you...

  The ALMOST Series

  #1 S.H.A.Y.: ALMOST Romance….

  With just two days until her 18th birthday, Shay must make the hardest decision of her life.

  Shay’s once easy and charmed life on a marine research center becomes threatened when she discovers that she’s been in the developmental phase of a highly-classified research project.

  Phase One: Developmental

  “From birth until 18, give all necessary freedoms to Synthetic Hominid Assumed Youth in order to grow in an open environment, exploring creativity, intelligence, motor skills, and morality. Provide direction via Performance Optimized Parent program, which learns along with latest S.H.A.Y.

  …Each S.H.A.Y. is to receive care from an Optional Human Parent in order to guide S.H.A.Y. in the discovery of morality.”

  Shay’s age marks the beginning of a new era.

  Phase Two: Experimental

  “From 18 to 20, S.H.A.Y. must experience loss, struggle and love…”

  “What’s that mean, Pop?” Shay asks.

  “In phase two: experimental; S.H.A.Y. suffers first: loss.”

  “Duh, Pop, what kind of loss?”

  “O.H.P. must die.”

  CHAPTER ONE

  LOCATION:

  Former Pigeon Key Research Center, Florida Keys

  YEAR: 2210

  S.H.A.Y. SUBJECT #318

  I’m not the first teenager of my kind. There have been 317 other S.H.A.Y.’s prior to my existence. I’m nothing special—I’m not even of the same caliber as most of my predecessors. My favorite is S.H.A.Y. Subject #51.

  S.H.A.Y. 51 created the very room I spent most of my time in. The scientists on this level agreed to give it to me, and it became my personal living quarters. The walls were made of glass and my space was submerged about two hundred feet under water. Inside, square, sleek, floating furniture surrounded Pop’s central console. The architecture was rounded with a flat, see-through bottom. The glass was self-cleaning so, algae and other plant life could not cover or corrode my “fish bowl”. Outside, aquatic creatures and plants surrounded me. Manatees and even a few sharks swam past with schools of fish. Below, past my feet, I could see Lobsters and an Octopus. He was a burnt orange color and about five feet in expanse. Several yards away, there was a blurred image of another pod. It didn’t bother me. They couldn’t see me unless I wanted them to. I could enclose myself from it all with just two taps of my finger. The glass walls turned opaque and created a sound proof barrier.

  I tapped my finger twice against the glass.

  “Pop,” I said.

  Electronic beeps filled my ears and lights raced along the ceiling as if they were miniature cars in a drag race. The lights ended at P.O.P.’s central console.

  “Yes, Shay, I’m here.” Although at first monotone Pop’s voice was monotone, bits of sarcasm filtered through.

  “Do you have the archives for me?” I glanced at Pop’s holographic image. It could move about all throughout the research facility. His lights lined the halls and I was able to walk along with him almost everywhere I went. He was handsome, with big brown eyes and dark skin. His hair was shaved and he smiled in a forced manner.

  “Which subject would you like to review first?” he asked, filling my room with subject numbers. They moved slowly above me like planets in rotation. Some twinkled like stars.

  I surveyed the numbers that floated above my head. “This one,” I said, touching 49.

  S.H.A.Y. 49 appeared before me as a three-dimensional projection. My fingers cut through her holographic form. She resembled me (which is probably why I connected with her so easily) with her long, dark hair and olive skin. Her eyes sparkle with such intensity. Her legs are long like mine but her body is voluptuous—unlike mine. I’m just all legs with some packaging in my rear end.

  “Evening Log, 6:15 PM; date, July 8, 2099,” S.H.A.Y. 49 said. “I’ve been eighteen for three days. P.O.P. and I have been removed from our living quarters and placed in an observatory lab. I’m surrounded by glass windows where various scientists stand peering in at me in what they call my ‘natural habitat’. I kind of feel like a giant monkey at those old school zoos banned three presidential terms ago. I’m starting to grow afraid of them. Maybe it’s just a case of paranoia setting in; especially since I’ve spoken to only P.O.P. for three days.”

  Static ran through S.H.A.Y. 49’s midsection as easily as my fingers did.

  “Men are coming.” S.H.A.Y. 49 knelt to the ground. Her face scrunched and she appeared frightened. “They’re on their way to get me. P.O.P.! What’s happening?”

  Archive terminated.

  “What’d you do that for?” I tried to grab number 49 before she disappeared from sight. “Turn that back on!”

  “You’re too sensitive for what comes next,” Pop decided. “Please refrain from reviewing this log.”

  I rolled my eyes, pacing be
fore Pop’s console. His image followed me left to right and even as I turned to avoid looking at him. His forced smile appeared again and I couldn’t help but grin back at him. Most scientists didn’t quite understand my relationship with Pop. He really was like a father to me. I knew that forced smile was real and him being facetious. Sure, none of the other P.O.P. programs smiled or made jokes but, Pop was different from the very beginning. He fought his programming and claimed he did such things to further my growth. My heart jumped when I saw his racing lights fill my room each morning. I longed for days spent with just Pop. He taught me everything from academics to engineering. Pop knew everything—except how to kiss boo boos. That’s what Darla did. Pop did sing to me when I was afraid. He told me jokes that weren’t at all funny whenever I grew sad and he attempted to erase my insecurities with positive remarks.

  “I don’t want to watch you cry again,” he said. “It causes interference in my circuitry.”

  “Just say you love me and it hurts to see me sad.” I tried to step into his hologram. He disappeared, reappearing a few feet away.

  “I am a program created to assist you to maturity as an intelligent human adult. I cannot have or feel emotions.” He turned his back to me. “I do not know what love is, my Shay.”

  “Yes you do,” I whispered into his console. He glanced away. “You can’t ever convince me that you’re heartless, my Pop.”

  “You must listen.” Pop’s screen darkened. “Listen, my Shay.”

  “To which log?”

  There was only one number that appeared above me. He always forced me to listen to S.H.A.Y. 317. She was the one before me. I got chills each time our eyes locked. It was as if I knew her once—or something.

  S.H.A.Y. 317 appeared beside me. I turned my face away from her green eyes and red hair. Her arm pointed my way. I could see the freckles that covered her skin.

  “Afternoon log; time is 1:12 PM and the date is March 1, 2190. Today, I found out what loss is.” S.H.A.Y. 317 sat, huddled in the corner, shaking. She motioned for her P.O.P. to zoom in on something. On the ground lay a dead woman, clearly she was 317’s Optional Human Parent. A pool of blood ran from her cranium and her legs looked twisted and possibly broken. “Pop and I were forced to watch men torture my O.H.P. all night long until she finally expired. I now understand loss and wish to eliminate its memory from within me.”